WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. October 12, 2005: A reader comments on a report of Dennis Power's news conference Tuesday afternoon:

Dear Mr. Bailey:

I am writing in response to the October 12 Journal News article "White Plains traffic targeted" by Liz Sadler.  I have been a resident of White Plains, living in the heart of downtown, during a period of time in which there has always been construction, which often leads to increased traffic. When I first moved to Westchester County in the late 1990's I looked into moving to White Plains, and decided against it.  It was a rather depressing place back then.  Times certainly have changed.

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 I have been a White Plains resident for the past few years and could not be happier, and am glad I decided to make this my home. The downtown is full of life, there are great restaurants, a movie theatre, and there are actually people on the streets. This article touched a nerve with me. Traffic is everywhere.  In my own country, and certainly in New York, traffic will always be an issue. I don't know of anyone that likes traffic, but despite sitting an extra few minutes at a traffic light, I see no major incidents in the downtown that make me want to change back to the scene I witnessed first hand in the late 1990's. I remember the traffic we had to face when we were forced to trek to Manhattan for dinner and entertainment because there was nothing available to us here in White Plains. I view it as a trade off for the amenities that we now have at our disposal.

I also wish to comment on the parking fine controversy. I recently received a $65 parking fine (for an expired meter) in Manhattan. I think that $65 is quite unreasonable for that type of offense. Here in White Plains the fine is $15, which I find to be far more reasonable. I hate to throw money away, but if I know the rules and I fail to feed my meter I certainly cannot blame the city or its policies.

Thank you for this opportunity.